Chase amusement structure



Nov. 30 1926.

. 1,608,935 T B. HALL CHASE AMUSEMENT STRUCTURE Filed Nov.: 17, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 30, 1926. 1,608,935

T. B. HALL v CHASE AMUSEMENT STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 1'7, 192s 2Sheets-Sheet 2 f Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS IB. HALL, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOWILLIAM O. FINKS, 0]? ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CHASE AMUSEMENT $TRUCTTJ'RE.

Application filed November This invention relates to an amusementstructure, and, more particularly, to a portable structure to be.erected uponv a race track, or other suitable place in cities, towns andvillages, for the staging of a controlled fox, wolf or coyote chase forthe amusement of the public, which. heretofore has only been possible tosee in the wilds of the forests and upon the plains.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide a portable chasecourse enclosure to be set up at a race course, or other suitable place;second, to provide a chase course enclosure which Will confine the wildbeasts, as well as the dogs, riders and their animals, to the chaseenclosure and to permit the spectators to clearly observe the chasestaged within the course enclosure from an adjacent grand-stand; third,to provide safety devices to save the life of the fox, wolf or coyote iftoo hotly and dangerously pursued, thus preventing the killing thereofby the bellowing pursuing running dogs; and, fourth to provide means forblocking the chase course to retard and halt the running dogs, animalsand their riders.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel features of construction,arrangement and combination of parts and their equivalents, hereinaftermore fully described and finally pointed out in the claims heretoappended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, wherein like characters of reference denote similar partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the fence structure and safetydevices, taken on line 11 of Fig. 2, clearly showing the chase course.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the chase structure adjacent oneof the drop curtains and one of the beast safetydens.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a section of the chase structure with theouter fence removed to clearly show' the drop curtain for spanning thecourse and the drop closures for each end of the beasts safety den.

In carrying out the aim of my invention, I provide asuitably shapedchase course 1 by erecting a suitable inner fence 2 and a suitable outerfence 3 which are spaced a suitable distance apart to provide the chasecourse 1. The fences 2 and 3, which form 17, 1923. Serial No. 675,412.

the chase course enclosure, are preferably made from woven or othersuitable wire attached to suitable supporting post 4. These fences aremade from openwork material in order that the chase may be clearly andeasily observed through the fences from both the center or inner field 5formed within the inner fence 2 and from a grand-stand adj acent theoutside fence. The inner fence 2 is preferably provided at a convenientplace with a suitable double gate structure 6 and the outer fence 3 ispreferably pro vided with a similar double gate structure 7 opposite theinner gate structure 6 to permit both individuals and vehicles to enterthe center or inner field 5. The fences 2 and 3 may be made up ofsections so that they may be rolled up into suitable bundles fortransportation from place to place and to permit the fences 2 and 3 tobe easily assembled and disassembled. While I have shown the chasecourse 1 as a circular track, it is evident that the course may be ovalor other suitable shape, in plan view, and that the chase course may beof any desired dis tance, such for instance as one-half mile, one mile,and the like.

8 represents a suitably inclined fence guard which is suitably attachedto the upper end of the inner fence 2, and 9 designates a similarinclined fence guard which is suitably attached to the upper end of theouter fence 3 to prevent the beast and running dogs from climbing andjumping the fences. As is evident, suitable illuminating meansdesignated 10, are disposed above or adjacent the chase course 1 forilluminating the course at night.

11 indicates a suitable elongated hollow den structure to provide a sidecourse 12 for the beasts when too hotly and dangerously pursued by therunning dogs. The den structures 11 are positioned at intervals aroundthe course and lie opposite the inner fence 2 within the inner field 5.The den structures may be made of any desired shape and size and fromany suitable material. These dens may be either so constructed to permitthe beast to be concealed from view of both viewing public when directedthereinto for safety, or observed by the dogs and public, if desired.The inner fence 2 is provided with a suitable closure 13 at the entranceopening 14 to each den l1 and with a suitable closure at the exitopening, 16 of each den The closures 13 and 15 of each den is preferablyof the drop type and the raising thereof is contr l d b m ns i Su t l bl7. a d .8, respectively, running over suitable pulley rollers 19. Oneend of each of the cables 17 and 18 are fixed to their respective denopening closure and the opposite ends thereof are fixed to suitablelifting handles 20 and 21, respectively. A suitable elevated platfornr22is disposed above each den 11 upon vhich suitable supports 23 are. fixedto which the lifting handles 20 and 21 may be connected Whenever theclosures 1'7 and 18 are raise'ch hen the closures are lowered bygravity; for closing the ten openirrgs, the handles are stopped fromextreme d'o'ii'iiward mov'eiiient by means of the platforrh 22.

The platforiii 22 is elevated so as to support the operator of the denclosures, the inaster of the chase and others connected with the chasesothat the chase can be easily and quickly coiitro'lled to suit thewishes of the master of the chase. The dens 1 1 are also each providedWith a suitable closure 23 opening into tlie'iiiner field 5 so that thebeasts may be deposited in the dens from Within the inner field; ifdesired.

24 indicates a suitable drop curtain or closure which spans the chasecourse or runningtrack 1; The closure 2:45 is preferably fixed to andsupported at its upper end by ine'aiis' of a suitable cross piece 25carried by the side guide posts 26, yvhi'chare disposed in pairsadjacent each fence to provide a channel for the side'sot' the curtainto enter, thus preventing: displacement of the curtain at its sidesshould pressure he brought to bear thereagainst by the running dogs"Wheii in its dropped position, thereby providing effectual niean's toprevent stopping the running dogs whenever it so desireaeuel a atafiy'tiine the beast is diverted through the dens 11 to permit the beastto upon the dogs when too hotly or dangerously pursued; The drop curtainis controlled in its raising inoveinent means of suitable cords 27 whichpass through eyelets and over a; pulley 29 tired to the upper end of oneof the guide posts The upper free ends of the cords are dispose-a inclose prox mity of the lifting dle's 2O so as: tobe vit'liin easy reach0 the operator thereof.

From the foregoing description-,it is evidentthat rprov'iae an amusementsmitten which winermit the confinement and absolute co trol from as'afetystantlpoint of the beast or beasts being pursued mmning do s, inthat the beasts ma be diverted from the main chase course 1 intoapro'tected' side course 12 When too' ho'tly dangerously pursued andthat'the' running dogs, horses and their riders can be halted orretarded by means of the drop curtains until the beast-has been givensufficient time Within Which to pass coinpleteiy t r g t e d n an agaien en the cha course 1 on the opposite side of the drop curtain fromthe pursuers. When it is desired to stop the chase, the beasts areretained Within the side dens and after the closures thereto have beenc'lbsed, the drop curtain can be raised so that the i ain closure willbe open; In the course or at chase it I evident that the dropfcurtainmay be dropped andraise'd 'a's tinies as desired and that througiitiiese ear ty devices, the chase ma be made as ericitiiig desii'eclasboth the beast oi beasts and thedfdQg-s aiiiinals are uiijder th'ceiiiplete 'conti'oloct the master or the chase vieiv otthe eta that aplurality of drojjbiti'tainsi aiid dens may be arranged at variousintervals around e Iiirs i s,

By ii leans of my portable chase structure, it is evident that a (l Olhlblete; stagingflset and reproduction (if old tiil'l'e i iiiiericanand fox chase, by blooded and speedy running hounds maybe aceonnplishetand this may be carried du't' iii fair ground tracks; bal l parhs airdother plzice s' that afior't l a, space large enough; thus bringing hspe t. attir wq an fi j t to he. ci y population who have never be ftirewitnessed this exciting eiitei'tainnieht' sport, thus the real flightfor life of the cunning red i a W4 tease othe b a t, pursu d by winrefinin dogs and Iho'ut ite d huntsinen, Withi na closureflyvillp'roveahvery "iiique' and emit ng n i' fi t th eye YP safe guar to thelife qftii m-suea I,

The advantages of the he iii described iiivent-ibii i'vill readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it i i j t ijas.

Iddo not vi'sh' tobe understood as haying lir'nited myself to thedetails ofconstructien SllbWfi at dseribta; but desire to have itunderstoo dthatthe ini eiition I haye shoxyn th demeai f ,n 'r i .iiistr t lr s it manifest that various minor: chahges inay be inad iiithe eXact col'i st-rlictiah ti cular arrangement ofv parts ithoiitdeparting 30m the spirit of invention,

hence rese ye'the'right to rhake a'ny such chanes,' or iiiddifieatiOns;as n'iay fairly tall Within the sc'o e of. the appended claims ivhen'fairly construed. W e I dr l ir s i le Pa d"; of'i i'a endless openworkfences for ing a chase course th'erebe iv ar d] formingflajdcenterparking are? v eas -warm field tinnitus nte e i t ere n a enm ty we openv vorli enclosures attraii red vithiii the centerfield formingstartdiverted coiii'se's eeoaess running parallel with the chase course, saiddiverted courses having an inlet opening and an outlet openingcommunicating with the chase course, drop closures for said inletopenings, means for actuating said drop closures, drop closures for saidoutlet openings, means for actuating said drop closures, a manuallyactuated drop curtain disposed between the inlet opening and the outletopening of each diverted course for diverting the pursued from the chasecourse into and through the diverted courses and temporarily halting thepursuers.

2. In an amusement structure for staging an animal chase, an openworkenclosure es tablishing a chase course and an inner field, a shortauxiliary course protected from view running parallel with the chasecourse and occupying a small area of the inner field through which thepursued animals can be temporarily diverted from the chase course, saidauxiliary course having an inlet opening at one end and an outletopening at the opposite end and both communicating with said chasecourse, closures for said openings, means for raising said closuresindependently of each other, a drop curtain spanning the chase coursebetween the inlet and outlet openings of the auxiliary course to directthe pursued into and through the auxiliary course and to halt thepursuers and means for raising said drop curtain independently of theclosures for the openings oi the auxiliary course.

3. In an amusement structure for the staging of a chase, an inner fenceand an outer fence forming a main chase course therebetween, a pluralityof diverted courses arranged at intervals to the inside of the. innerfence and connected by means of a pair of end openings in the innerfence With the main. course, vertically movable means for controllingsaid openings, an elevated stop closure spanning the main course intermediate the openings in the inner fence and means for controlling thedropping of said stop closure.

4. In a portable chase structure for wild beasts and running dogs andhorses comprising an outer and an inner fence providing a chase coursetherebetween, a diverted course adjacent the inner fence having a beastinlet opening and a beast outlet opening communicating with the mainchase course, means for controlling said openings and a drop curtaindisposed between the inlet opening and outlet opening of each divertedcourse, said drop curtain spanning the main course for controlling thepursued and the pursuers in the chase.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thespecification.

THOMAS B. HALL.

